TOPICS

We invite Mr. Timothy See, Senior International Relations Executive, Ministry of Transport, Singapore, to the professional workshop today. He discussed his college experience.

Experiences in the college of International Relations, Ritsumeikan University, provided multiple tips and advices in terms of campus life and job-searching, and shared his working in the government sector.

Mr. See particularly shared his experience on how we can handle and recover from a job rejection. He pointed out the importance for fresh graduates that we should not underestimate yourself, but to recognize and overcome your weaknesses and be more confidence in the next job interview.

Since 1945, it has appeared impossible to separate issues of Japanese security from those of the US alliance. This relationship has been considered the benefactor for Japan’s economic recovery, the enabler of Japan’s adherence to Article 9 and a pacific post-war period, and also thereby as a thorn in the side for those that resent US dominance, patronage, and leadership.

However, what has this relationship really meant for Japan, its security since 1945, and its place in the world today? This presentation will examine these questions.

It will also re-consider how secure Japan has felt and feels today, and the causes of insecurity? It will look at how Japan has attempted to secure itself, through the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) and other means, and how US influence can be evaluated.

Finally, there will be a consideration of Japan’s strategic security options. Are there any meaningful alternatives to the close embrace of the US, either as complimentary alignments, such as the Quad (with Australia and India), or Special Partnership Agreements, bilaterally with countries such as the UK, or multilaterally with institutions such as the EU and NATO, or through the less defined Free and Open Indo-Pacific approach?

We invite Mr. Masayoshi Iyoda, senior researcher in NPO named Kiko Network and Climate Action Network Japan (CAN-Japan), to the professional workshop today. He shared his life story and all the works related NGO. Along with the increased awareness of the environment and human rights of citizens, private companies as well as NGOs try to practice the social economy.

The lecturer briefed on the global climate problem, its trends and NGO strategies first.

Mr. Masayoshi Iyoda showed the graph’s trend of CO2 concentration in the air was extremely severe, and depicted how the world is contaminated with map. Finally, he discussed his NGO career in Japan.

The Saionji Memorial Scholarship awarding ceremony for the spring semester of 2021 took place on the 9th of December, where the applicants with the best results were awarded scholarships.

The event was held in a hybrid format.

The awards were given out face to face and via Zoom for the applicants who were unable to attend.

At the award ceremony, a congratulatory speech was given by Dean Kawamura after which the certificates were presented one by one.

Mr. DENG Haoran and Ms.AOBA Azusa gave a speech on behalf of the recipients.

I  congratulate all the recipients of the scholarships and wish them all the best in their studies.

＜Saionji Memorial Scholarship (Academically Outstanding Students Category)＞

https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/scholarship/regular-grow.html/

We invite Mr. Sugawara Takashi, former Japanese Embassy Specialist Investigator, and Mr. Ikoma Tadahiro, former Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, JICA to the professional workshop today. Mr. Sugawara introduces the 2 years of job experience at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Japan, and to provide an opportunity for participants to consider an international career in a diplomatic field.

Mr. Ikoma discusses his experience working with an agricultural extension worker to promote organic farming at the local government level in the Philippines as a JICA volunteer and establish a demonstration vegetable farm in a mountainous village, regarding grassroots development and international cooperation development.

We invite Adam Franklin, Coordinator for International Relations, Kyoto Prefectural Official, to the professional workshop today. He discussed his own experiences as an international resident who underwent their tertiary education at Ritsumeikan, and used their academic experiences to find a job here in Japan.

In currently working at a government office as a civil servant, he shed aunique light on what it’s like to work within the Japanese system, what his day to work experience is like, and to share some advice to those who might like to follow a similar path in the future.